A continuation of illnesses for M2...

How is it possible that one child can catch just about everything in her 1-year life? (I know - knock on wood...it can always be worse.) Anyway, what we thought was Croup after a 'convenient care' trip on Wednesday after school, turned into a stressful midnight trip on Thursday to the ER to find out that it was RSV. (Really Stupid Virus for those of you who don't know.) Ha! So, needless to say, our little one was miserable! I don't know if I can put into words, or explain it clearly enough, but having your 1-year-old get a chest x-ray could be the scariest thing. :(

There is a little table with a hole in the top. Inside the hole is a bike-type seat for their legs to go over. Then they put two plastic shields around her body really tight to hold her still. Did I mention that they make it tight with her arms straight up? Yeah, they do. Then they strap a couple belts around her so she can't move. M2 was half screaming and half trying to sleep. Poor baby. I could barely watch and was turned around crying most of the time. What seemed like 5 HOURS in the contraption, was probably only 5 minutes. I'm glad that's over. I think I apologized 100 times to my baby after that.

Of course my main concern on Friday morning was 'WHAT ABOUT THE PARTY?' Well, after talking to the cupcake lady (who had already made 42 of them!) we rescheduled it for March 6th. I don't even know WHY I schedule stuff with M2 around. Christmas Day (if you don't recall) was spent at home with her ear infection #3 & pink eye, and now her birthday party is postponed. We've decided that this is God's way of yelling at us that 2 kids are enough. :)

One other boy at daycare had RSV, and I was hoping we could avoid it - what was I thinking?! So she's on an antibiotic, a steroid, motrin/tylenol, and using a nebulizer a few times a day too. The nebulizer really does work pretty slick, although it does make me feel like we need a little two-wheel cart to pull it along. (Ok- that was mean.)

Here's proof of our crazy days...

(Ignore the list to the right. That was the stuff we needed for the party on Sat.) :(

Quite the display, huh?!

I feel like she's making baby steps every day, and that she'll be getting better any day now. As I sit here typing this update, she's in her crib laughing and talking when she should have been sleeping 40 minutes ago. Stinker! But maybe that's a sign!? We'll see. I make no plans with her, remember.

Cuddle time with daddy...sportin' the onesie to keep her cooled off.

Mmm...blueberry muffins!

So our baby is ONE now, but we haven't officially celebrated it, and she doesn't know anyway. Ha! Thanks for checking in on us. I'll keep you posted on her progress! And seriously - COME ON SPRING!!!

I LOVE MY BROTHER!

I can't believe I forgot to mention that my little brother...ok, he's 6'5" so I guess he's not little...but he's still my 'baby brother'. Anyway...he called to wish me a Happy Birthday on my birthday. What awesome brothers I have! How did I get so lucky?! In the midst of college life, basketball practice, and who-knows-what-else-college-kids-do, he thought of me! :) Love you L!

My bros & M1 on her birthday in May.

Ok..so I'm a little partial to February...

Us girls on my bday...still in my 20s by the way. :)

Those of you who know me, know I LOVE my birthday. I can't pin-point why that is, but for some reason I really look forward to it! My birthday started out great - a late start! I got to sleep in a little, and B ran to the bakery for doughnuts. Tasty! He surprised me at school with a Chai (my favorite!) and a sweet poem. He also brought me a massage certificate and some ca$h for shopping. It doesn't get much better than this! We enjoyed supper at Applebee's with my mom and brother. A day of ALL my favorite things. He did awesome!

We spent Saturday eating and shopping while my mom babysat. (Thanks Kiki!) It was a great day! Starting your day with Texas Roadhouse is ALWAYS a good thing! It was sort of a birthday-slash-Valentine's date day.

We're getting all ready (ok - I'M getting all ready) for M2's big party on Saturday! I think I've made a dent in the decorating, and I'll be working on favors soon. I want my kids to love their birthdays too, so I don't hold back. :) (It's all worth it...right honey?!) It's been a 'sweet' year with M2, and that's the theme! Hearts all around! I think it will be so cute. I'll post pictures soon. Although I'm sure if you read this that you'll be there. Ha!

I am home with her today since she woke up with a fever...poor thing. Not sure what that's all about. She has a cough, and was acting like she had a sore throat this morning, but seems to be okay otherwise. Hmmm. Hopefully she'll be feeling better in no time.

M1 is ALWAYS up for learning new things, and her newest is cutting with scissors! She really wanted some, and I thought it would be a good idea to practice those kinds of things for preschool. A couple pictures of her trying to figure them out...

Ha - hilarious face! You'll get it babe.

Thinkin' pretty hard.

Ok, so I NEVER would have let M1 crawl in the cupboard and play with pans. What's the deal with letting M2? Maybe I'm not as strict? Not as routine? Hmm...not that's not it...I'm too routine! Oh yeah, maybe it's because M2 seems to get her way because she'll yell until she gets it. She's the ultimate 'little sister'. It's easier to give in sometimes. (I said SOMEtimes...I still stick to my guns most of the time.) :) She IS pretty stinkin' cute though.

Look at her little self...perfect fit!

Totally TUBE-ular!

Well, today was a BIG day for our little one! After 4 ear infections and many sleepless nights, we decided to do ear tubes for M2. We had to check in at the hospital at 7:00 (that's AM!) for M2's ear tube 'surgery'. I just hate that word. I prefer 'procedure'...that makes me not as scared! :)

Our morning:

7:00 - Check In (Nana came to hang out here since M1 doesn't get up even CLOSE to that early - thanks Nana!)

7:55 - The nurses came to take M2 to the 'procedure' room

8:05 - The doc came in to tell us she was done and that there was lots of 'gunk' in her ears

8:15 - M2 was given back to us & she slurped down her bottle since she hadn't eaten since 8:00pm last night

8:30 - Home Sweet Home

8:45-12:00 - M2 naps! :)

I have to admit that it was scary to hand her to the nurses and watch them walk down the hall. But, it really was a fast procedure! They sent us home with ear drops, her little mask from the sleeping gas, and little ear plugs for swimming and baths (they're pink!). I can't believe how long she slept when we got home - but she woke up SO happy! Yay! I have heard SOOOO many stories about how much happier their child was after tubes, so I'm hoping the same thing happens for us. Cross your fingers! I told my dad that I'm hoping it will make her quieter too, now that she can hear better. Ha!

M2 in her hospital jammies

What would we do without the blankie?!

Waiting with my sleepy girl.

There she goes...

I know people go through WAY worse things than ear tubes, so I have to remember that. No biggie. Well...the bill wasn't necessarily 'small'...but I would pay big bucks to have healthy children and SLEEP!